Public Statements

Rodney Supports Jobs For Veterans

Statement

With Rodney's strong support, the House passed legislation Wednesday to provide occupational training to out-of-work veterans as a way to counter growing unemployment in their ranks. According to the House Veterans Affairs Committee, unemployment among veterans recently rose from 7.7 percent to 8.1 percent, nationally.

The Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act (H.R. 2433) would allow 100,000 unemployed veterans ages 35 through 64 to apply for Montgomery GI Bill) benefits. Eligible veterans could choose to enhance their skills with up to a year of training for high-demand fields such as technology and health care. The VOW Act would also boost transition assistance for servicemembers and improve job protection laws for National Guard members and Reservists.

"Veterans bring great intangibles to employers," said Rodney, a veteran of the Vietnam conflict. "They're leaders and team players, who know how to get the job done in challenging circumstances. All they need are updated skills to help them get into the job market and compete."

The VOW Act must now be approved by the Senate before it can become law.